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Selling Houses Australia - S11 EP13 Little Forest NSW

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Peter Ryan and his three children dreamed of living the country life on acreage, so in 2014, he bought this property in Little Forest on the South Coast of NSW. But as soon as they moved in, the kids realised they didn’t want to be so far out of town and away from their mates. Things changed again two years later when Peter met his fiancée Abigail Sheridan – they are a Tinder success story! Abigail has two children of her own, and now this blended family wants a fresh start closer to work and school in Sydney.

The 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom home has been on the market for over 12 months but is yet to receive any offers. And with Peter and Abigail splitting their time between Peter’s home in Little Forest and Abigail’s place in Sydney, the Little Forest home has become a financial burden. Peter and Abigail admit that the tired home needs some love, so a buyer can walk in and fall in love with the house and its beautiful surroundings.

Interior

LOUNGE

BEFORE

AFTER

HALLWAY

BEFORE

AFTER

Shaynna’s main objective was brightening the dark interiors and bringing in the natural tones of the outside in. Painting the dark beams and timber wall panelling in a lighter tone and whitewashing the timber floors immediately made the heaviness disappear. The black kitchen cabinetry was revived with a light green tone to compliment the gorgeous views out the windows and the existing timber benchtops. Even the unique feature lights carry on the natural theme of the surrounding environment.

DINING & KITCHEN

BEFORE

AFTER

Some clever cladding transformed the dated bathroom – granite veneer on the vanity and walls and vinyl planks on the floor bring a contemporary freshness. Black taps and fittings continue the modern streamlined look.

BATHROOM

BEFORE

AFTER

The upstairs bedrooms received new paint, carpet and window blinds, and the downstairs bedroom dressed as an art studio shows floorplan flexibility and ways to draw even more inspiration from the beautiful location.

BEDROOM 1

BEFORE

AFTER

Glare and direct sunlight was a big issue for the bedrooms facing the mountains, with the reflected light often harsh and blinding. Luxaflex Dual Roller Blinds were called in to do the job, with dual fabric opacities to shield out the sun when needed and for night-time privacy with Blockout, and Sheers to soften the suns rays during the day and let in a soft filtered glow. Shaynna picked out a dark Blockout fabric from the new Faroe collection, which has a texture that draws from the various applications and patterns created by the material concrete. The Faroe fabric embraces a raw appeal which goes hand in hand with the timber features which were left unpainted, the matching carpet, touches of greenery in the pot plants, and of course the majestic natural scenery right beyond the window panes.

BEDROOM 2

BEFORE

AFTER

Shaynna wanted the spectacular views to be the hero at the window, most importantly in the entertaining lounge and dining areas, but also required shading and privacy where it was most needed, in the bedrooms.

BEDROOM 3

BEFORE

AFTER

The studio became a multifunctional space - it could be a spare bedroom, a study, hangout area for kids, or an artist's retreat! Sheer Roller Blinds would fit the use of the room for any of the above, letting in soft light while allowing inklings of the scenery to filter through. The Sheer 'Moorea' fabric was chosen in a simple White, adding an elegant and refreshing feel to the rooms. The light entering the clean, white blinds brightened the spaces naturally, but in a way which was calming next to the serenity of the mountains.

STUDIO

BEFORE

AFTER

Exterior

Being such a large property, Charlie had to focus his efforts in a few key areas. The front door is not in an obvious location so strategic plants and styling help visitors find the entrance.

EXTERIOR

BEFORE

AFTER

Tidying the mess around the water tanks was a simple fix, and a new screen and mature planting hides away the things that can’t be changed.

Repainting the gutters, trims and shed brings a cohesiveness to the frontage, and painting the balustrade of the surrounding decking in a dark colour makes it fade into the expansive views.

DECK

BEFORE

AFTER

The verdict

Charlie and Shaynna helped to lift the dark and gloomy home, creating a lighter, brighter space which complemented its stunning surroundings and capitalised on those unbeatable views.

Peter admitted he'd miss the house even more since the team worked their magic, but his heart was already with Abigail in Sydney.

With the property's new look and a clever real estate-strategy on hand, the house soon sold for a very attractive $900,000.